Singapore Wins The AFF Cup!!!! WOOHOO!!!

Yes and before I forget, Singapore has won the ASEAN Cup. Well done Lions, your deeds will not be forgotten. :)

Now.. who said local soccer was dead? :D

Hello Sports Fans

Yes of course, Hello Sports Fans, because here's another sports-themed movie that I caught a few days back.

Gridiron Gang

Now in this movie, at least there's some passion for life exhibited by the folks who starred in this flick. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is finally showing that he can truly act. I don't see the lame eyebrow-raising move that is his trademark. Which is a good thing, because I'm a fan of the The Rock. He's one tough dude.

Now the story tells of a true-life account of what a probation officer at a probationary institute for juvenile delinquents did. The setting here is a Camp situated somewhere in California, where the officer by the name of Sean Porter, decides that something must be done to arrest the problem of their kids going back to their gangs and drugs after their release.

It's a superb storyline, one that I truly liked. My GF didn't want to see this at first, but she agreed that it was a good story. Here's a lesson that these delinquents can reform themselves, but only if they are given a chance to, and have something to aim for in life.

Kudos to the director and to The Rock himself for the great movie and superb acting.

I rate this: 8.5/10 for the content alone. :)

Some other stuff..

First off, I'll start with this movie I caught a few weeks ago. Blood Diamond stars Djimon Hounsou, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly.

To be frank, I didn't want to watch this movie because I didn't think it would be this good. I was surprised with how Leo acts out his role as a South African mercenary with a heart that actually cares. Djimon plays this Sierra Leonese fisherman, who is separated from his family when the rebel RUF forces arrive and disturb the idyllic peace of his fishing village. Jennifer of course, plays her role with quite a fair bit of magnetism. She's the requisite babe of course. What's a movie without the babe? :P

Anyway, the storyline is good, one of the best I've seen so far. It's a pity that I doubt anyone will ever remember what they are talking about. Conflict diamonds are a problem for the Africans as they fund the civil wars that are so rampant in such diamond-producing areas in any region of Africa, save for South Africa that is. Women don't care about where their diamonds come from, as long as they get that big fat rock on their finger. Personally speaking, I'd rather not give a diamond ring to anyone, if I know that there is a risk that someone was killed just so I could present one to my wife-to-be. It's your personal choice though..

Dysfunctional execution

Yes, I'm talking about Saddam Hussein's execution. While I never suffered under his rule, nor was I a victim of his secret police, I too feel that the current US-installed Iraqi government is nothing more but a bunch of bloodthirsty savages who are no better than Saddam or his cronies. Rushing his execution was just a publicity stunt.

Sure, the chap ought to hang for his crimes against the Shias and the Kurds, but they only convicted him of the massacre in Dujail, which was I might add, in retaliation for an assassination attempt on his life by the townspeople. Previous dictators have done worst, yet none suffered the same fate that befell Saddam in his final hours. But the courts conveniently forgot to charge Saddam for the horrors of his chemical campaigns in the north against the Kurdish people. Sorrow to the Kurds for they have not gotten justice. His death means nothing without a proper conviction on the issue of the Kurds he and his forces killed.

I hope the executors who kept taunting him with chants of Moqtada! Moqtada! are happy with their actions of videotaping his execution. I hope they're finally satisfied that they got to hang their mortal enemy. I also hope that they're very happy with their barbaric action of releasing the trap door before the man even finished his own prayers. You know why? Because I sure as hell hope God punishes them for their crimes against a fellow man who is already condemned to die by a puppet court. Give the man some measure of peace, to say his proper prayers before the trapdoor is released. I hope Saddam's soul returns to torment his executors, for they too have committed a sin of their own...

A tale of surf.. and sun

タイヨウのうた - Taiyou no Uta

(Movie was listed as Midnight Sun for Singapore, but it has alternative names)

Watched this last night with my GF at Cathay Cineleisure. Man.. what a tearjerker. I'm a sucker for tragic romances. -__________-

It's a beautifully crafted movie, though I would have preferred it to have been a little longer.

Kudos to the sound fellas. The music that goes in the background for most part is damn beautiful. I love the soothing sounds. This must be one of my most favourite soundtracks. As it is, I managed to track down a few of the important tracks from the movie. Excellent songs, sung by this cute yet equally talented singer from Japan, YUI, who happens to be the lead actress in the movie. In it she plays the doomed Juliet with a genetic disease, Kaoru Amane, and her hapless Romeo is this dood called Kouji Fujishiro, acted by Takashi Tsukamoto.

Read a short review here on Wikipedia

More on YUI's wonderful music here - Channel-Ai

There's a drama version of this movie as well, with a different set of actors/actresses and a more detailed storyline.

Watch it with your loved one.. you might just enjoy it, if you're alright with a sappy love story with a superb soundtrack. :)

Ey.. wassup Doc!

Well, it's hunting season again, and animals are constantly on the run from hunters. Oddly enough, this story is quite entertaining, though I must say, it is rather shallow.

Sure, seeing a pack of animals gang up together to show the hunters who's boss is definitely a good form of entertainment but hey, it gets stale after awhile.

I do admit however, the characters are definitely well done. Kudos go to the animators who made that crazy ol' squirrel Mc-sumthin or whatever. Now he's one nutjob alright. :P

Watch it if you want, but do it on a weekday like Mondays or Tuesdays. Don't waste your $$$ watching it on the weekends or something.

But one thing sticks. This show is definitely way better than Happy Feet.

A lil' feet a'tappin!

Watched this hoppity-hop movie last weekend, just forgot to update that's all. My GF had some discounted tickets offered by her company, so I went with her and her younger sis.

The movie was pretty fun, but as usual, kid-oriented. It got boring after awhile. Keeping it short, the only good characters are the Adelie penguin gang, led by Ramon (voiced by Robin Williams).

They are the spark behind the movie, plus they sure as heck steals the fun away from the other penguin folk.

The show got kinda lame near the end, where some humans just popped up and started grooving to the beat of the penguins' synchronised dance moves.

Err.. penguins don't dance. They waddle and slide. :P

Indigènes / Days of Glory

I just had to post this.

This movie was one of the best war movies for 2006. It portrays the sacrifice made by Muslim and non-Muslim North and West African troops during WWII. They fought for France, which was still their colonial masters during that point of time, but they too struggled with racism, inequality and just plain bad luck.

In the movie, it focuses on the relationships between a group of Algerian soldiers, Said, Yassir, Messaoud and Abdelkader. Not forgetting, their Sergeant, Roger Martinez, who is probably part Moroccan. It is an eye-opener to see how these tirailleurs behaved in their day-to-day affairs while serving the French Army.

Kudos to Rachid Bouchareb for directing this movie that literally pushed France to finally pay up the pension that has been owed to African and Asian veterans of WWII, soldiers who fought for France, but were treated unfairly when their countries decided to be free of France's colonial yoke after the war.

So many died in the political upheavals that followed the war but this is not portrayed in the movie. Nonetheless, it is a good watch, well worth the money, for someone who can appreciate a historical-based film.

I love chicks on horses

I've not posted since July, but I have my reasons. :P

Anyway, on to the subject. Just watched the movie Battle of Wits at Westmall with my gf. It's called Muk Gong in Hong Kong?Korea? and Bokkou in Japan.

Excellent movie. I love the battle scenes, but the CGI is not too good. Folks can easily see that it's somewhat "fake". It's nowhere near LOTR quality, but the storyline is good. You get eye candy in the form of Andy Lau as the Mozi warrior Ge Li (geli means itchy or squirmish in Malay.. ) and this chick on a horse aka Yi Yue, commander of the Liang cavalry and played by Fan Bingbing, an actress from China. She's HOT. Me wants her... NOT.. otherwise my gf will skewer my head on a satay stick. :P

So what are you waiting for? If it's not Happy Feet, check out this period movie. You'll love the chick on the horse, just like I did. :0

Helen who?!

Helen who? You might ask. That's simple, its the title of this new Japanese movie showing in the theatres right now. That's right.. its Helen, the baby Fox. :)

I do admit, initially I did not want to watch this, but after much persuasion from my other half, I finally relented and watched this over at Plaza Singapura a few days back.

The story tells of a young boy who comes across a blind, deaf and mute? baby fox sitting on a roadside one day in rural Hokkaido, northern Japan.

The whole story seemed a little sappy at first, at least to me, but as time passed by, the whole narrative and the lessons behind the whole thing just kinda grow on you after some time.

I must say, seeing that poor baby fox (kitsune in Japanese) really got me upset because she was so cute, yet so pitiful to be born that way. I guess everything happens for a reason. Don't wait for me to spill the spoilers, just go catch the movie.

My rating? - 9/10

Official website is here - Helen, the Baby Fox

P.S. For those who wish to know, the baby fox in question is from the subspecies Vulpes vulpes schrencki.

Nacho Libre Baby! Viva la Mexico!

Finally got to watch a long awaited comedy from Jack Black. What else? Nacho Libre.. a story about a priest who wants to be a luchadore or what you would call a Mexican wrestler. For those who think its a story about nacho cheese.. take a hike!

For folks who have watched WWE/F on TV previously, try recalling Rey Mysterio. That fella is also a luchadore who's made it into the WWE.

Now this story is kinda patchy at times, but its the comic timing of Black that saves the movie. One thing however, its nowhere as good as his effort in School of Rock.

The casting of the other skinny dude as his sidekick Esqueleto is a good one. That fella is ultra funny, especially with his weird smile and the stretchy shorts!!.. HOLY CRAP I nearly laughed my ass off when I saw him in that getup.

Then there's the fat kid, Chancho and of course, the beaaaauutiful nun called Sister Incarnacion. *drool begins*.. and then there's the weird wrestlers that Nacho and gang has to face from time to time. For example, those two small guys with horns.. they were nearly like mini satyrs! Of course, no movie would be complete without a bad guy character. In this show, its this champion wrestler called Ramses. The fella's really big.. but he doesn't even say a thing. In fact, I doubt he even opened his mouth other than to snarl. :P

One other thing I did notice however, was that some parts were probably censored before the movie was screened locally here in SG. I'm amazed that they would actually censor this movie. Now I'm not sure if my claim is true or not, and neither am I saying whether its plain BS from me, its up to you.

I'll probably get this when it comes out on VCD or DVD. Its a cool movie and Jack Black is one of the best comedians around. For more info, check out the official site here:

http://www.nacholibre.com

Try out the Kung-Fu game thingy.. its really weird..

Oh yes, before I forget. I was crazy enough to wear the Mexican soccer jersey to the cinema, just for this movie.. heheheh!

LTNS.. World Cup.. and of course.. a rant.

LTNS or otherwise shortform for Long Time No See.

Sounds lame? Actually not. I've not been blogging for a few months, primarily because of personal choice and for some reasons I will not explain. Let's see.. the elections are over.. and of course, the usual folks are the winners. How boring. Then there was the usual every day stuff. Fish and Zoids, where I'm concerned.

Oh yes, not to forget, the on-going soccer fiesta in Germany, or what we football-fans call the World Cup. I've seen all the matches so far, only missing one, because I dozed off. But this edition of the World Cup has definitely seen some surprises. Why? Because of low scorelines for the so-called "superior" teams from Europe. Wow, I'm definitely shocked. Folks in England must be wondering why on Earth did the lions from England had to win via an own goal? Isn't there any skill left in England's squad? Or should I call them over-paid and over-rated footballers? Before I get England fans throwing bricks at me, I should say yes, I think they're over-rated, but there is definitely some skill amongst them. Let's see how they do tonight against Trinidad and Tobago, a small unheralded team from the Caribbean that held mighty Sweden to a goalless draw with only 10 men on the field..

And of course, I should add this bit. Sometime back I got into a ruckus with this "ethnic Korean" from a South Pacific nation. Wow, this fella was giving me some high and mighty attitude. When I called him arrogant, guess what? He responded via a private message on a forum I frequent with another round of high and mighty attitude. "For the record, I place in the 95th percentile of my country, which coincidentally, happens to be an English-speaking country".. that was what he said that simply irked me to no end.

HELLO MORON.. so what if your country is an English-speaking country, and you place in the 95th percentile? It only makes you look smart but who gives a squat about that? I've scored A's all my life in English and never once mentioned this to him. This marks the first time I've come across such an arrogant b#st#$d. Wow.. I am surprised. For such a prick to even exist is simply mind-boggling.

He's no doubt an ethnic Korean, but I bet he forgets one thing. HUMILITY. Perhaps someone should go straight up to his face and spell it clearly to him, for surely he makes occasional spelling mistakes. For someone who thinks so highly of himself, in terms of mastery of the English language, he ought to ensure that he makes no mistakes in spelling or grammar. So much for his "95th percentile" speech.

Man.. what an asshole, and to think he says some folks regard him as a level-headed fella. Either he's damn good at bootlicking, or they're just saying it for the sake of it. Someone definitely needs to burst his bubble. Ugh.

Pardon the rant.